Convertible rocking chair



Sept. 17, 1946. M, Q LEMQS 1 2,407,839

CONVERTIBLE ROCKING CHAIR l Filed N'ov. s, 1944 fyi.

Patented Sept. 17, 1946 Manuel G. Lemos, New York, N. Y.

Application November 3, 1944, Serial No. 561,658

This .invention relates to improvements in rocking chairs, and, more specically, to a new and improved construction of a convertible rocking chair.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a rocking chair whose rockers can be made inoperative by a simple manipulation so that the chair stands on four `legs and can be used as an ordinary chair, thus uniting two pieces of furniture to one, which will result in a considerable Saving of space and will be very advantageous in small apartments, hotel rooms, ships, army camps and the like whenever there is not suicient room for a normal arm or easy chair and for an additional rocking chair;

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved construction of the lower portion of all types of chairs which is applicable .to arm chairs, side chairs, easy chairs, benches and the like irrespective of whether the same are made of wood or of metal, plastic material or the like;

Still another object of the presen-t invention is the provision of a device of the character described whch is simple .in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, yet which is well adapted to withstand the rough usage lto which such devices are ordinarily subjected.

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in .the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawing whether within or without the scope of the appended claim and irrespective of other specific statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the same;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 partially broken away;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modification of my invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view oi a. part of the device as it appears when viewed according to the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line 5 6 of Fig. 5.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The general principle of my invention upon which both modifications are based is the presence of two longitudinal curved bars or rockers I5 or 33 of which each is pivoted to the inner 1 Claim. (Cl. 155-73) side of the lower end portion of the front legs of the chair, of crossbars II connecting the rockers to each other, and 4of means for retaining the rockers in a position in which their lower surfaces project over the'lower ends of the legs of the chair.

Referring now .to Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawing, the numeral I0 denotes a chair which has side portions II, .a seat portion I2, a back I3 and front legs I4 as well as rear legs, said legs being adapted to support the chair I Il.

Cross bars I'I connect the rockers I5 .to each other. A shaft is horizontally extended through the chair I0 below the seat portion I2. The end portions I9 of shaft 20, which extend through apertures in the side portions I I of chair I0 are provided with handles I8, adapted to be manipulated conveniently by a person sitting on the chair. Two levers 2l are secured to shaft 20 and are located between the side portions II of chair Il). The lower end of each lever 2| is pivotally connected at 22 to a connecting link 23. An additional cross bar 24, which has cylindrical end portions, extends through the lower ends of the connecting links 23 and through the rockers I5 so as .to secure each rocker I5 pivotally to a connecting link 23. A pin 25 is laterally secured to at least one of the levers 2l, and a curved groove 26 is provided in the side portion II of the chair into which pin 25 extends (Figs. 1 and 3).

If the parts I5 and I8 to 24 are in the position shown in Fig. l in full lines, the lower surface of the rockers I5 projects slightly over the lower ends of the legs of chair Ill, thus the chair can be used as a rocking chair. Upon swinging the handles I8 in an anti-clockwise direction, the parts I5 and I8 to 24 will be brought in a position as indicated by dash-and-dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that the chair will rest on its four legs, the rockers I5 being inoperative. The groove 25 in cooperation with pin 25 limits the movement of the parts I5 and I8 to 2d in both directions.

According to the modification of Figs. 4, 5 `and 6, substantially the same rocker arrangement can be used as in the embodiment of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. It is only the arrangement of the rocker swinging and retaining devices which differs from the previously described embodiment of the invention. The rockers 33 are pivoted at 32 to the front legs 3| of a chair 30 and are connected to each other by stationary cross bars. A lug 34 is secured to one rocker 33 and a lug 35 is secured to the other rocker 33 (Fig. 5). AXially shiftable crossbars 35 and 31, whose main portion is preferably square in cross-section and which have cylindrical end portions, are arranged between the rockers 33. The right end portion 38 of crossbar 36 is longer than its left end portion 4I, and the left end portion 39 of cross bar 31 is longer than its right end portion 46. The end portions 38 and 49 are extended through they lug 34, and the end portions 39 and 4l areextended through the lug 35. If the cross-bar 36 isV shifted as far as possible toward the right hand side, the end portion 38 will extend through lug 34and the right rocker 33, and will project over the latter. Likewise, if the cross-bar 31 is shifted as far as possible toward the left hand side, the yend portion 39 will extend through lug 35 and through the left rocker 33 and will project beyond the latter. Pins 42 and 43 are provided on` the crossbars 36 and 31 for facilitating the shifting of the same. A recess 45 is provided at the inner side of the lower end portion of each rear leg 44 of chair 30, and the lugs 34 and 35 are located on the rockersl 33 in such a manner thatthe end portions 39 and 38 engage the recesses 45 when the rockers are in a position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and when the crossbars 36 and 31 are shifted so that their longer end portions 38 and 39 project beyond the outer side of the rocker 33. The rockers 33 are then operative so that chair 30 can be used as a rocking chair.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is desired, therefore, that my invention be limited only bythe priorV art and the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a convertible rocking chair having four supporting legs, two rockers tiltably attached to the inner side of the lower portion of the two front legs of the chair and adapted to swing up and down between all four legs of the chair,

vcros'sloars connecting said rockers to each other, y a shaft horizontally extended through the chair secure said rockers pivotally to said connecting links and a pin laterally secured to at least one of said levers and extending into a curved groove in the side portion of the chair, said groove and said pin being adapted to limit the movement of said levers, all substantially as described.

MANUEL G. LEMOS. 

